Daily News Capsule

The United States on Sunday identified the sources of COVID-19 Vaccine raw materials required for the production of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India.

A top US government official said that this raw material would be made available to India immediately- said US NSA Jake Sullivan to NSA Ajit Doval.

Also, read | Global Response for India’s Call for help: Oxygen Shortage & Medical Aid

Jake Sullivan National Security Advisor

• A statement in this regard was issued by Emily Horne, spokesperson of the US National Security Council (NSC). Horne confirmed the same when asked about a phone call between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his American counterpart, Jake Sullivan.
• Sullivan spoke with Doval on the phone today, expressing “deep sympathy” for the people of India following the recent spike in the Covid-19 cases.
• US has identified a supply of therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits, ventilators, and PPE that will be immediately available to India.
• The US is also pursuing options to provide oxygen production and related supplies on an immediate basis – Sullivan said.
• The US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is significantly expanding the manufacturing capacity for BioE, a vaccine manufacturer in India, (Hyderabad-based) to prepare BioE to produce at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines till 2022.
• Additionally, the United States is deploying an expert team of public health advisors from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and USAID to work in close collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, India’s health ministries, and India’s Epidemic Intelligence Service staff. USAID will also quickly work with CDC to support and fast-track the mobilization of emergency resources available to India through the Global Fund.

Also, read | US defends restrictions on Export of COVID-19 Vaccine raw materials says “Americans First”

Last week Mr. Poonawalla tweeted tagging President Joe Biden and asked him to lift an embargo on the export of raw materials.

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on AstraZeneca vaccines “COVID-19 Vaccine”

• He urged the Biden administration to release the dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to countries currently facing the deadly surge in COVID-19 cases.
• We are currently sitting on more than 40 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the US stockpile, a stockpile we are not using and that we have already opened to combat COVID-19 in Mexico and Canada.
• To curb the spread of the virus internationally and to save public health and the international economy, the US now needs to take out these COVID-19 Vaccines, Raja Krishnamoorti said.
• I respectfully but firmly call the Biden administration to release millions of AstraZeneca vaccine supplements to the countries most affected by the spread of COVID-19, including India, Argentina, and possibly others.

The Biden administration had come under criticism from several quarters, including from members and supporters of the Democratic party, for not releasing surplus COVID-19 vaccines to India when the country is experiencing its worst-ever public health crisis.

Active CoronaVirus case in India

• India set a record for 3,49,691 new coronavirus infections in one day on Sunday, taking its total COVID-19 cases to 1,69,60,172.
• According to official figures, the death toll has risen to 1,92,311, a new fatal record of 2,767 per day.

Antony Blinken said in a tweet, “Our hearts go out to the Indian people amid the terrible COVID-19 outbreak. We are working closely with our partners in the Government of India, and we will increasingly provide additional support to the people of India and the healthcare heroes of India.

For daily news updates related to finance, business and sports keep following our portal Daily News Capsule